Relay



Oct. 26, 1937. J. E. WILLING 2,096,929

RELAY Filed May 31, 1935 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELAY Application May 31,

10 Claims.

This invention relates in general to relays and more particularly to a neutral polar type of relay for railway signalling purposes.

It is often necessary in railway signalling systerms to provide a neutral polar relay which is arranged to operate its neutral and polar contacts in accordance with the condition of a remote device such as a track switch. For example, such a neutral polar relay may be energized with one polarity or the other of direct current over a suitable control circuit in accordance with the opposite extreme positions of a track switch, and tie-energized when the track switch is in an intermediate position, to thereby select circuits for the clearing of signals associated with various routes over the track switch by the positioning of the polar contacts, with this selection of signals being made dependent upon the closing of a neutral front contact. It may happen that the polar armature will fail to change its position in response to a change of polarity due to some accidental friction in the polar structure, or the like, although the neutral armature properly picks up. This would cause a signal to clear for a wrong and possibly an unsafe route.

In view of the above and other considerations, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a neutral polar relay in which the neutral armature will pick up only when the position of the polar armature corresponds to the polarity of energization of the relay.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the present invention will appear as the description thereof progresses, during which references will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the magnetic structure of a neutral polar relay arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one arrangement of the relay partially illustrated in Fig. 1 .and shown in connection with a railway track switch.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of a modified 5 arrangement of the relay partially illustrated in Fig. 1 also shown in connection with a railway track switch.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the magnetic structure of a neutral polar relay constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in perspective, and it is noted that the majority of the mechanical details of this structure are of similar arrangement as shown for example in my earlier Patent No. 1,969,055 granted August '7, 1934, to which ref- 1935, Serial No. 24,164

erence may be made for details omitted from Fig. 1. This structure comprises two vertical electromagnet cores 4 and 5 terminating at their lower ends in enlarged pole pieces 6 and 1 respectively and two Vertical permanent magnets 8 terminating in a common pole piece 9 at their lower end, the upper ends of the electro-magnet cores 4 and 5 and the permanent magnets 8 all being joined by top yokes l 0 of magnetic material held in place by bolts II.

A neutral armature I2 is pivotably supported beneath the pole pieces 6 and 1, and windings 20 are provided on the cores 4 and 5 to produce a flux attracting armature l2 upwardly by current flowing in either direction therethrough. It may be seen in Fig. 1 that the permanent magnet pole piece 9 extends transversely between and slightly above the inner ends of the pole pieces '6 and 'l, and a vertical integral portion 9 extends downwardly in front of the neutral armature l2. A hanger member [8 is attached to the lower end of this vertical portion 9 of the permanent magnetic pole piece which extends downwardly and is arranged to provide a horizontal pivotal support for a polar armature l4. The pivot means for the polar armature I4 is not entirely shown in Fig. 1, but from the above mentioned Patent No, 1,969,055, it will be seen that polar armature I4 is arranged to operate in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot extending transversely with respect to the neutral armature l2.

The vertical portion of the polar armature I4 is magnetically coupled through a small air gap to the rear side of the vertical portion 9 of the permanent magnet pole piece, and a horizontal integral portion l4 of the polar armature extends rearwardly between the inner ends of the pole pieces 6 and 1, and this portion I4 is separated by a small air gap from the horizontal permanent magnet pole piece 9. The permanent magnets 8 are arranged with like poles joined to the pole piece 9 so that the polar armature I4 is continuously magnetized with a definite polarity which causes operation of the horizontal portion I4 thereof into engagement with either the inner vertical surface of pole piece 6 or the inner vertical surface of pole piece 1 according to the direction of current in windings 20.

Suitable contacts which have not been shown herein are of course operated by the neutral armature I2, and the polar armature i4 is provided with channel members l5 and [6 attached thereto by bolts I! to extend from opposite sides thereof for the purpose of operating suitable polar contacts, it being understood that these movable 55 various other details which are not snown are to A neutral armature retaining magnetic struc' ture is also'illustrated in Fig. 1 which is located in front of the neutral armature l2 and comprises two vertical electro-magnet cores 22 and 23 which are magnetically joined at their upper'ends by a yoke ZE'held thereon by studs 2'! while the lower ends terminate in C-shaped pole pieces Mjand 25 respectively. These O-shaped pole pieces 24 and 25 extend around opposite ends of a retaining armature 3E; so that the. lower horizontal ends of' 1 the pole pieces coact at times to magnetically 'hold the retaining armature .30 thereagainst, while the upper horizontal portion of these C- shaped pole pieces Hand 25 are spaced sufficiently above the armature 38 (even with armature 38 in its raised position) to have substantially no magnetic eifect thereon.

The retaining armature 30 is rigidly attached to the neutral armature l2 by connecting arms 32 but is preferably magnetically insulated therefrom by making the arms 32 of non-magnetic material or by any othersuitable means. the retaining. armature 38 is moved into engage-1 'ment with or'aw'ay' from the lower horizontal portions of polepieces 2t and 25by the release and pick up respectively .of the neutral armature l2,'

subject to the checking control presently to be described. The retaining'cores 22 and 23 are provided with windings 34 and 35 respectively whicharc arranged, as will be later described, to at times producea fiux attracting armature 30 downwardly with a force which, when multiplied by its: greater lever arm, is sufiicient to prevent the attraction of theneutral armature I2 when the operating windings it are energized. The re-- taining armature 353- in the form'ofthe present invention shown in Fig.2, isa permanentmagnet, while in the modified form shown in Fig. 3, isa

, soft iron armature all as will be later described.

It willalso be'clear that in the magnetic structure illustrated in Fig. l, the cores-4 and'5, the

permanent magnets B and the retaining magnetic cores 22 and 23 are all to be supported on an insulating top plate, it being understood that this and be arranged in accordance with the usual practicebr as shown in my, prior Patent No. 1,969,055. The relay of the present invention hasibeen shown in FigLZand Fig. 3' as controlled in accordance with the position of a track switch TS, The track switchTS is shown. in a'conventio'nal man her as being power-operated by a switchmachine SMpf aty e such as shown forexainple in the patent to W. K. :I-Iowe Patent 'No. 1,466,903 dated September 4,1923. 'Two movable contacts 38 and 39 are shown as associated'with the track switch" .TS'and switch machine SM, and thismay represent a point detector contact mechanism such as shown in the patent to CJS. Bushnell Patent No.

1,517,236dated November .25, 1924. It is be? 'lieved to be suflicient for anrunderstanding ofthe present invention to know that the contacts :38

V 1 and 3d are in their present normal positions when the track switch TSis in a normal position in pole at'the retaining pole pieced; and a y and 39 .to intermediate 7 positions.

correspondence with the switch machine SM and.

is looked; that the contacts 38 and are in their mid-position whenever the track switch TS is unlocked or in operation, and that contacts 38 and 39 are in a reverse or dotted position whenever the track switch TS is in its reverse position in correspondence with the switch machine SM and is locked.

The present relay has been illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in a diagrammatic manner and'parts thereof representing parts shown more in detail in Fig. 1' have been given like reference characters. It is also to be understood that, although only such contacts as enter into the relays operating circuits have been shown, various other polar and neutral contacts are of course provided. to effect the controlof various circuits such as Operation Referring first to Fig. '2, the operating windlugs 20 of the present relay are energized by cur rent fiewing therethrough in a normal direction over a circuit from the terminal of a suitable source ofenergy such as battery '33, through contact 38in its normal position, through a polar contact 46 in its right hand position, upwardly through winding Sl'on the'retaining magnetic core 22, downwardly th ough winding 35 on the retaining magnetic core 23, through a second polar contact '42 in its right hand position, through the operating windings from left .to

right, and back'to the terminal of'battery' B through c'ontactil in its normal position. 'It will be assumed that current thus flowing from left to right throughthe operating windings 29 is in a proper direction to operate polar contacts 43 and G2 to theirright hand position, as

shown. With these contacts as and d2 in their right hand positions, the direction of current flowing in windings '3 and iifi'produces a North pole at the retaining pole piece 25.

i In the form of the present invention shown in'Fig. 2, the retaining" armature 3 3 is a permanent magnet with a North pole above the retaining pole piece Z land a South pole above the drawings.

duced. by the previously traced energization of windings 34 and'35 is opposed by the permanent magnetization of armature 30 which allows the armature 3G to'be substantially free to move upwardly from the pole pieces 24 and 25 ,'thereby response to thisenergi'zationlof windingsili.

, allowing the neutral armature E2 to pick up m Q 1 It'will now. be considered that the track switch TS is operated Joy-the switch machine SM from" its normal' position to therebymove contacts'38 tion obviously de-energizes windingsifland rereverse position in correspondence with the This condileases the neutral armature 52, but as soon as the. track switch TS has been operated to. its

switch machine SM, the contactsjfiii and 3% are i moved to their reverse or dotted positions. This completesa reverse energizing'circuitkfor the windings 2B which may be traced from the.

terminal offbatterylB through contact 39 inits contact 42 in its right hand position, upwardly through holding winding 35 downwardly through holding winding 34, through polar contact 40 in its right hand position, and back to the terminal of battery B through contact 38 in its reverse or dotted position.

This direction of current flowing from right to left in windings 20 causes the polar contacts 40 and 42 to operate to their left hand or dotted positions, but until the polar armature thus responds, it will be clear that the direction of current in the holding windings 34 and 35 has now been reversed, or that is, a South pole is produced in the holding pole piece 24 which is beneath the North pole of the permanent magnet 30 and likewise a North pole is produced in the pole piece 25 which is beneath the South pole of the permanent magnet 30. This condition obviously results in a flux value in the retaining magnetic structure which produces a downward attraction of the retaining armature which is sufiicient to prevent the neutral armature 12 from picking p.

It will thus be clear that in the event the polar armature (including contacts 40 and 42) fails to respond to the reversal of current in the operating windings 20, the retaining magnetic structure acts to hold the neutral armature in its released position thereby preventing the completion of a Wrong or an unsafe circuit through the polar and neutral contacts of the present relay. However, if the polar contacts 40 and 42 respond in a proper manner to this reverse direction of current in the operating windings 20 and move to their left hand or dotted positions, it will be clear that current again flows upwardly through winding 34 and downwardly through winding 35 which produces a flux which equally opposes the flux of the permanent magnet armature 30 and allows the neutral armature I2 to properly pick The operation of the system in Fig. 2 back to its normal condition is merely an inverse function of the operation already described and therefore will not be pointed out in detail as it will readily be apparent that the operation of the track switch TS and switch machine SM back to its normal position first de-energizes windings 20 to release the neutral armature I2 and when the normal energizing circuit for windings 20 is again completed by the normal locked position of the track switch and switch machine, current flows downwardly thromgh the holding winding 34 and upwardly through the holding winding 35 until the polar'contacts 43 and 42 have properly operated to their right hand positions, which produces flux of such a direction in the retaining magnetic structure as to prevent the neutral armature i2 from picking up.

In other words, during the operation of the present system back to its normal condition, the neutral armature l2 cannot pick up properly unless the polar contacts 40 and 42 operate back to their normal or solid line positions in order to apply a direction of current to windings 34 and 35 which releases the retaining armature 33. However, under usual conditions, the polar contacts 40 and 42 properly respond to this normal direction of current in windings 20 to again allow current to flow upwardly through winding 34 and downwardly through winding 35, thereby producing opposing flux values which releases the holding armature 30 and allows the system to assume its illustrated condition.

In the modified arrangement of the present relay shown in Fig. 3, the armature 30 is not a permanent magnet, as in Fig. 2, but rather is made of the usual soft iron material. Also, in Fig. 3, only the winding 34 on the retaining magnet core 22 is energized'from the battery B in series with the operating winding 23 and the polar contacts 40 and 42, while the other winding 35 on the retaining magnet core 23 is energized from a separate local source of energy such as battery 13 through a back contact 44 of the neutral armature l2. In as much as the normal energizing circuit in Fig. 3 is the same as that described in Fig. 2 with the omission of winding 35, it will readily be seen that, in its present normal condition, current flows downwardly in the holding winding 34 and from left to right through windings 20, which is in a proper direction to position the polar contacts 4|] and 42 to the right and to pick up the neutral armature 12, thereby de-energizing the holding winding 35 at the open back contact 44.

It may be seen in Fig. 3, without tracing the circuits in detail, that a reversal of the track switch TS and switch machine SM will first deenergize the windings 20 to release the neutral armature l2 and subsequently apply a reverse direction of current thereto. When the polar contacts 30 and 42 properly operate to their left hand or dotted positions in response to this reversal of current, current then flows downwardly through winding 34 thereby producing a flux which is equally opposed by the flux produced by the normal downward direction of current in winding 35 with back contact 44 closed, thereby releasing the retaining armature 30 and allov ing the neutral armature to pick up in response to the energization of operating windings 23.

However, in the event that the polar contacts 40 and 42 do not properly operate to their left hand positions in response to this reversal of current, current will flow upwardly through winding 34, and the closing of neutral back contact 44 will cause current to flow downwardly through winding 35. With these windings 33 and 35 thus energized, a cumulative fiux is produced thereby causing a downward attraction of the retaining armature 30 which prevents the neutral armature [2 from picking up.

It will thus be seen that the form of the present invention shown in Fig. 3 likewise prevents the wrong or unsafe control of signalling circuits by retaining the neutral armature l2 in its deenergized position in the event that the polar armature fails to properly respond to a reversal of current in the operating windings 253.

In order to conserve the power required to energize winding 35 when it is not required, its energizing circuit includes a back contact 44 of the neutral armature l2 so that under the picked up condition of the present relay, this circuit is open and winding 35 is de-energized.

In operating the system shown in Fig. 3 back to its normal condition, it will be clear that the neutral armature likewise cannot pick up unless the energization of winding 34 is in a direction to produce a flux which opposes the flux produced by the energization of winding 35 and such a direction can be obtained only when the polar contacts 40 and 42 are in their right hand position corresponding to the normal direction of current in the operating windings In this manner, the same check is obtained on the proper polar armature operation in operating back to the normal condition as previously described in connection with the operationfrom a normal to a reverse condition.

A neutral polar relay has'thus been provided wherein the correspondence of the polar contacts with the polarity of .energization of the relay is checked in'one form against the permanent magnetization of a retaining armature, and

in another form against a constant polarity of electro-inagnetization of a portion of the re- V taining magnetic structure, whereby both forms of the neutral armature is retained in its deenergized position unless the position of the polar contacts properly correspond to the polarity of energization of the relay.

In other words, in the'form shown in Fig. 2, the

current in the holding windings 34' and '35 is always in the same direction regardless of the polarity of energization of the windings providing the position of the polar contacts 40 and v s2 correspond to the polarity of energization of the windings 2%, :and this direction of current in windings 34 and 35 produces a flux which is neutralized by'the permanent magnetization of the armature 38 to thereby allow the neutral armature to pick up. However, in the event the polar contacts' iii and 42 do not correspond to the polarity of energization of windings 20, a reverse directicnof currentilows in the holding windings 34 and 35 which produces a flux aiding the flux producedby the permanent magnetization of armature 3G and provides a retaining force efiective to prevent picking up of the neutral arma ture l2. 7 a V The form of the present invention shown in 7 Fig. 3' accomplishes the same result by maintaining the direction of current in the holdingwind- .ing' 35' constant regardless of the polarity of energization of windings 26', while the current in V 1 the holding'winding 34 depends upon the position of the polar contacts 48 and 42. When'these contacts (it and 42 properly respond to the energization of windings 20, this direction of current inwinding 34 produces a flux which is neutralized by the flux produced by theenergization of the other holding winding 35, thereby. allowing the neutral armature to pickup; In the event the polar contacts iii'and 42 do not correspond to the polarity of 'energization of windings 26, the n direction of current in the holding winding 34 produces a flux aidingthe flux produced by the local enei'gization 'of winding-351110 thereby'provide a retaining force acting on armaturefiiil which prevents 'the'neutral armature 12 from picking up. V V a r 7 An important-feature of both theillustrated forms of the'present invention is the series ar rangement of thefoperating windings Zilgthe V polar contacts fill-and '42 and the holding wind- 7 re uired and must be energized to allow the neuings 36 and 35, whereby it is obvious that a :i'ailure or opening. of the circuit at anyof these points cannot reduce the reliability of the check on the proper polar contact operation, but rather will result in deeenergization of the entire relay, to provide a restricted but a safe condition. Likewise, the winding '35 inFig. 3 is energized when tral armatur'e jto pick up; so that any failure of a this circuit results in a de-energized or safecondition o'ft'he relay.

The above rather specific description of one form of thepresent invention'is given solelyby the way of. exampleg and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, *inqa limiting sense. 'Itis also 'tobe understood that various modifications, 7 adaptations and alterations may be made to meet tion. or" current only inthe the requirements of practice, without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, except as limited by the appended claims. 7 r V V What I claim is: r

1. In a relay, an operating magnetic structure,

operating windings on the operating magnetic structure, a neutral armature responsive to the.

' armature responsive to the polarity of energization of the operating windings, a retaining magnetic structure spaced from'the operating magnetic structure, and means including a retaining armature connected to the neutral armature and coacting with the retaining magnetic structure for preventing operation of the neutral armature when the position of the polar armature is out of correspondence with the polarity of energization of the operating windings. 3.'In'a relay, an operating magnetic structure having operating windings, a neutral and a polar armature coasting with the operating magnetic I structure, a retaining 'armature operatively connected to, and spaced from, the neutralrarma- .ture, and magnetic means controlled by the polar armature and acting on the retaining armature to prevent operationro'f the neutral'arrnature when the positionof the polar armatureis out of correspondence with the polarity of energization of the operating windings. 7 1 V 4.. Ina relay, an operating magnetic structure havin operating windings, a neutraland a polar armature co'actin'giwith the operating magnetic struct'ura'a retaining armature connected to the 7 neutral armature, a retaining magnetic struc-' ture coasting with the retaining armature, windings on the retaining magnetic structure connected in series withthe operating windings, contacts on the-polar armature selecting'the direction of current in the windings on the retaining mags netic structure, and means permitting the at-- traction of the retaining armature by one directaining :magnetic structure.

windings on the .re- 7 7 5 In a relay, an operating magnetic structure having operating windings-ti neutraland apolar armature associatedlwith the operating magnetic structure, a retaining magnetic structure having retaining windings connected in series with the 7 operating windings, a retaining armature associated with theretaining magnetic'structure and connected to the neutral armature, pole changing contacts operatedby. the polar armature and arranged to maintain a definite direction of current of the'polar armature corresponds to the direction of current in the operating windings and polarizedmagnetic means opposing the flux produced by said definite direction of current in the retaining windings;

in the'retaining windings onlywhenthejposition '6. In 'a relay, an operating magnetic structure having operating windings, a neutral and a polar armature associated with the operating magnetic structure, a retaining magnetic structure having retaining windings connected in series with the operating windings, a retaining armature associated with the retaining magnetic structure and connected to the neutral armature, pole changing contacts operated by the polar armature and arranged to maintain a definite direction of current in the retaining windings only when the position of the polar armature corresponds to the direction of current in the operating windings, and a permanent magnet arranged to oppose the magnetism produced by said definite direction of current in the retaining windings.

7. In a relay, an operating magnetic structure having operating windings, a neutral and a polar armature associated with the operating magnetic structure, a retaining magnetic structure having retaining windings connected in series with the operating windings, a retaining armature associated with the retaining magnetic structure and connected to the neutral armature, pole changing contacts operated by the polar armature and arranged to maintain a definite direction of current in the retaining windings only when the position of the polar armature corresponds to the direction of current in the operating windings, and an electro-magnet arranged to oppose the magnetism produced by said definite direction of current in the retaining windings.

8. In a relay, an operating electro-magnetic means, a neutral and a polar armature, a retaining electro-magnetic means, polar contacts selecting the polarity of energization of the retaining electro-magnetic means in accordance with the correspondence between the position of the polar armature and the polarity of energization of the operating electro-magnetic means and a spaced polar retaining armature of magnetic material and operatively, and non-magnetically, connected to the neutral armature and arranged to selectively retain the neutral armature in its de-energized position in accordance with the polarity of energization of the retaining electromagnetic means.

9. In a relay, an operating electro-magnetic means, a neutral and a polar armature, a retaining electro-magnetic means, polar contacts controlled by the polar armature and selecting the polarity of energization of the retaining electro-magnetic means in accordance with the correspondence between the position of the polar armature and the polarity of energization of the operating electro-magnetic means, a polarizing electro-magnet coacting with the retaining electro-magnetic means, and a retaining armature arranged to selectively retain the neutral armature in its de-energized position in accordance with the correspondence between the polarity of energization of the retaining electro-magnetic means and the polarizing electro-magnet.

10. In combination; a polarized circuit; a relay provided with polar and neutral armatures; a main winding for said relay connected in said circuit and capable when energized to actuate said polar and neutral armatures; an auxiliary electromagnetic structure having a permanent magnet armature mechanically attached to said neutral armature of said relay, and an auxiliary winding for coacting with said permanent magnet armature; polar and neutral contacts operated by said polar and neutral armatures respectively; and circuit means for reversably connecting said auxiliary winding in series with said main winding depending upon the position of said polar contacts in such a manner that the magnetic flux produced by the energization of said auxiliary winding opposes the flux of said permanent magnet when said polar contacts have properly responded to the energization of said main winding.

JOSEPH E. WILLING. 

